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EMI No Longer Selling Product At Mom And Pop Stores?

This is all anecdotal, but according to music industry veteran Wayne Rosso (via punknews.org) EMI Group has been contacting some of their smaller accounts (aka independent record stores), and telling them that they’re no longer selling them product. Apparently, they’re asking the smaller stores to go to one-stops to get product in a cost-cutting move. Some of the metal labels EMI distributes include Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Season of Mist and Earache.

We’re of two minds on this. Reading the comments on the post, some from independent stores, it seems like former industry heavyweight Rosso might be stirring up controversy where there isn’t a ton. Many distributors have stopped selling directly to smaller accounts, not just EMI. And if a store is doing so little business that it doesn’t make sense for EMI, or any other label, to sell directly to them, why should they? And as evidenced by their “March is Metal Month” campaign a few months back (I think it was in March), they’re obviously showing a commitment to both metal and independent record stores.

On the other hand, every week there are less brick and mortar stores that sell music. If huge outlets like Circuit City and Virgin Megastores are shuttering, the indie mom and pop stores – that need every advantage they can get – are definitely feeling the squeeze. They might not be able to beat Best Buy and Wal Mart on prices, but will always beat them in selection. By giving the mom and pops more work to do to get niche music on their shelves, this definitely isn’t doing them any favors. EMI didn’t respond to our request for comment.

If you thought Europe wasn’t more than “The Final Countdown,” you’ve mostly been right. However, their new album War of Kings, is streaming now on Yahoo Music, and it’s not awful. The album will be released on March 10th on Hell & Back Recordings. It can be preordered here.

Philadelphia doom band Crypt Sermon’s debut album, Out of the Garden has gotten a lot of well-deserved press. Now you can listen to the Dark Descent album before it’s in stores next Tuesday. It’s streaming here.

You can add two more states on to the Mastodon/Clutch tour that will be making its way around the country starting in April. They’ve added shows in Honolulu on April 4th and Detroit (Sterling Heights) on May 23rd.